When I ponder the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth I'm struck by how pedestrian it would look to anybody who was present at the time. We don't speak in capital letters of the Visitation of the Smiths to Joneses for Dinner. We don't announce to our spouse, "Honey, the hour is coming and has now come for the Visitation of Your Mother-in-Law from Cleveland." So it's intriguing to wonder why this episode from Mary's life would be so significant that it deserves a mystery of meditation devoted to it.
Given that this scene is supposed to be a vital one in the Great Revelation, I am forced to ask, "What is revelatory about it?" And the thing that literally jumps at me is John the Baptist — jumping. It's an incredibly intimate thing when you think of it. Elizabeth goes to meet Mary and, somehow, in that strange quiet way he has, the Holy Spirit gives to her the great sign of just who dwells in Mary's womb. Does he use fiery writing in the sky or great clarion calls from the eternal realms? Does he wake up the whole neighborhood with some spectacular Cecil B. DeMille vision of angels that points to Mary and says "Attention People of Earth! This woman is the Mother of my Son!" Nope. Just a flutter in Elizabeth's womb. Only she can feel it. Only she, of all the earth's citizens, knows it. Yet it communicates to her a revelation as powerful — more powerful — than the parting of the Red Sea.
More than that, it creates something absolutely new in the universe: Christian friendship. Friendship, of course, is not a Christian invention. Friends are born when two people gaze, not at each other, but at something they both love and then say, "You too? I thought I was the only one!" Elizabeth has been carrying the secret of her miraculous (albeit natural) pregnancy for a few months. She has been contemplating in love the Lord who accomplished it. And now Mary comes, bearing that Lord himself in an even more miraculous pregnancy. The laughter, the camaraderie, the "You too?," the shared stories, the awed quiet: all these would be natural. And in that, for the first time, two human beings become friends by sharing, not a perishable love of some earthly thing like stamp collecting or books or old movies, but an imperishable love whose foundation is Jesus Christ. Like kids, they share a huge secret: the thrill of being "the only ones who know"! But like mature disciples, they know that the secret is to be shared with the whole world, too. And it is a dark and difficult secret. For precisely what both women are being called to do is give their sons' very lives that the world might be saved. They are, it turns out, comrades-in-arms in the greatest spiritual battle in the universe. And a sword shall pierce their hearts, too.
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Nice post, how good God is to give us these comrades!
A couple of other things that strike me about this event. First is how far Mary traveled, over 150 km! This wasn’t a casual trip. Also, to me, this is a manifestation of Mary’s universal motherhood. Her first action after the incarnation was to be a Mother to Elizabeth. Who usually helps a first time mom with her baby? Her mother. But since Elizabeth was old and probably didn’t have a living mother, Mary stepped in. What great confidence this should inspire in us to to turn to her, truly our Mother.
the Visitation! It is my “favorite” decade of the Rosary. I have no idea why this picture occurs everybtime I recite it, but I clearly see Mary and Elizabeth sitting at a table in the shade of a tree, talking and preparing vegetables for dinner. These two most blessed women are friends, relatives and have a common goal to bring their children into this world. It makes them so human in their holiness.
i like your explanation, i am just wondering if it happens now in the modern time…how will the people accept such “Miracle of love and life that comes from the Holy Spirit.” I am happy because God promise me the same and sword pierce my heart because people’s reaction is unacceptable in the modern day.
Thanks, Mark. And in this mystery we hear for the first time Mary called Mother of God, for Elizabeth had but one Lord, the Lord to Whom her priestly husband offered incense. And the Baptist, dancing like David before the Ark of the Covenant, leaping for joy at the new Ark wherein dwelt the presence of his Lord. Revelatory indeed!
Mark, thank you. That was really lovely. You have given me a beautiful image to meditate on when I pray the rosary.
p.s. It is very refreshing not to have “the trolls” skulking about in the comments! :-)
That was awesome. Seriously.
Four days after the incarnation, Mary and Joseph left to go to Juda to visit Elizabeth and Zacharias. There was some question about whether Luke named the correct city where they lived. The question arose because Juda was later destroyed and there was no record that such a city existed. Some biblical scholars thought it was Judea, the name of the province. Th trip took four days, and although St. Joseph was yet unaware of Mary’s condition, he secured a humble beast on which she could ride. John had completed his sixth month in the womb of Elizabeth, but his body had already attained a state of great natural perfection to prepare him for the miracle of his conception by a sterile mother. The visit to Elizabeth was both to sanctify her and presanctify John who because of the presence of the Word in Mary’s womb leapt for joy. St. Joseph returned home, but Mary remained until John was born. Zacharias had been struck speechless because of doubt. When John had been born and circumcised they asked Zacharias for the name. He took a pen and wrote “His name is John”. Mary then caused the dumbness to leave him. Much more is written in the City of God for those who are interested.
Just curious as to the source of Bob R.‘s posted information. Four days later? Luke says that she went with haste. Had she informed Joseph at this time? I have no reason to believe so, for if she had, he more than likely would not have accompanied her, for when he learned of her condition, he thought to “put her away.” If he was with her, he certainly learned of her condition from Elizabeth’s greeting. Like the former Ark of the Covenant,Mary remained in the hill country of Judah for about three months (ISam.6:11).
This is my favorite as well. I’m sure they also they chatted about other relatives just like we do with our own cousins.
My favorite is the birth of Jesus, but this and the Annuciation are right up there. And a good thought I have is the Evangelist with Mary-his only possible source for all this-and how he must have felt the first time he heard from her lips the story of these mysteries. Imagine how she smiled and glowed recounting this to him, perhaps with Jesus present and also smiling. Just last nite I was reading some of the non-canonical writings and there is a story that after Jesus was born a woman did not believe Mary was still a virgin and so she-just like doubting Thomas-had to, and did, check it out…...and of course she found out the truth. For us today, the Visitation is perhaps the most poignant ProLife message in the entire bible.
This holy mystery is a good antidote to say to someone who tells you they are a Catholic For Choice. I like to ask them: what would have happened to our salvation if Blessed Mother CHOSE to abort Jesus instead?
Dan: I received mt information from the Mystical City of God by Venerable Mother Mary of Agreda. It is reputed to be an autobiography of the Holy Family dictated by Almighty God and His Mother. It has many approbations and one Vatican Cardinal said he learned more from reading it than 50 years in the priesthood. Almighty God said He intended for it to be reliable truth. I believe Him. I recommend you read it as well.
Dan:
Bear in mind that pious works are not inspired and have no claim on us for belief. If they are useful to your devotional life and are not contrary to faith or morals, make what use of them you will. But you are in no way bound to believe them and if you find them of no use to your devotional life, feel free to drop them.
I like to meditate on this mystery after receiving Communion. We, too, are called to bring Christ to others.
Good article…I also like the fact that it doesnt mention Mary saying anything before Elizabeth speaks that Mary is “the mother of my Lord”. Jesus was also so small that Mary would not have had a pregnant looking belly yet ....Elizabeth KNEW the whole deal with the interior leap.
Mark: How do you rate pious activities vis-a-vis private revelation? I find it hard to believe that private revelation is not inspired. I do agree that it is not the same as the Deposit of faith, but the Vatican document about private revelation does state that it is licit to publish it so people are aware of its existence and can adhere to it. I believe in taking advantage of every guide for salvation offered by God and His Blessed Mother.
Mark, Thank you for the last two articles. This is good use of a Catholic blog - setting peoples sights and hearts on things above.
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